Shock Defeat in Plateau APC Primaries as Speaker Naanlong Daniel Crashes Out

The Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Naanlong Daniel, has suffered a major political setback after losing the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Mikang State Constituency seat ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Daniel, who was seeking a fourth consecutive term in the Assembly, was defeated by political newcomer Timdi Nkat during the party primaries conducted across the 24 state constituencies in Plateau State.

Announcing the result at the collation centre, Returning Officer Festus Danladi Dakogol declared that Nkat polled 5,674 votes to emerge winner, while the incumbent Speaker secured 1,487 votes.

The outcome marks a dramatic end to Daniel’s bid to return to the Plateau Assembly for another term and represents one of the biggest upsets recorded in the APC primaries in the state.

Daniel was first elected into the Plateau State House of Assembly in 2015 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before defecting to the APC in 2017. He subsequently retained his seat in the 2019 and 2023 elections.

His 2023 re-election, however, was surrounded by legal disputes after a prolonged battle with PDP candidate Moses Sule over the outcome of the election.

Despite his position as Speaker and years of political influence in Mikang Constituency, the lawmaker was unable to withstand the challenge posed by Nkat, whose victory is already being described by party supporters as a major political upset in the constituency.

The defeat effectively ends Daniel’s ambition of returning to the 11th Plateau State House of Assembly under the APC platform.